Lackland trainer handed 4 years in rape

Updated 10:57 pm, Saturday, March 16, 2013

A shackled Staff Sgt. Eddy Soto (center) is escorted out of a building at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland after being found guilty.

A shackled Staff Sgt. Eddy Soto (center) is escorted out of a building at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland after being found guilty.

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER, Express-News

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A shackled Staff Sgt. Eddy Soto (center) is escorted out of the 37th Training Wing headquarters building at Lackland after his Article 32 hearing on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Soto is the second basic training instructor to be found guilty of rape. He was also accused of having an "unprofessional relationship" with a female trainee and of sexually assaulting two female former trainees. MARVIN PFEIFFER/ mpfeiffer@express-news.net

A shackled Staff Sgt. Eddy Soto (center) is escorted out of the 37th Training Wing headquarters building at Lackland after his Article 32 hearing on Saturday, March 16, 2013. Soto is the second basic training

TIMELINE: The sex abuse scandal centered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has become the worst in Air Force history with 33 basic training instructors under investigation for allegations of misconduct with 63 recruits and technical training students. The following photos depict the still-unfolding investigation. less

TIMELINE: The sex abuse scandal centered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland has become the worst in Air Force history with 33 basic training instructors under investigation for allegations of misconduct with 63 ... more

Photo: John L. Mone, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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March 2, 2012: Air Force trainees at Lackland Air Force Base listen as officials explain to them about sexual misconduct and their responsibilities to report it.

March 2, 2012: Air Force trainees at Lackland Air Force Base listen as officials explain to them about sexual misconduct and their responsibilities to report it.

Photo: William Luther, San Antonio Express-News

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April, 2012: Staff Sgt. Peter Vega-Maldonado, 32, pleaded guilty to two charges stemming from his relationship with a 21-year-old airman he supervised in basic training. In exchange for a reduced sentence, he agreed to testify against two other trainers he said had illicit relationships with women. The judge gave Maldonado 90 days in jail, 30 days hard labor while restricted to the base, reduction from staff sergeant to airman and forfeiture of $500 a month pay for four months. Read more: Two more Lackland AFB instructors implicated in sex scandal less

April, 2012: Staff Sgt. Peter Vega-Maldonado, 32, pleaded guilty to two charges stemming from his relationship with a 21-year-old airman he supervised in basic training. In exchange for a reduced sentence, he ... more

Photo: Lisa Krantz, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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June 20, 2012: Lt. Col. Mike Paquette lost his job as commander of the 331st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, where most of the accused instructors had worked. He had led the 331st Training Squadron for two years. Read more: Training boss ousted in Lackland sex scandal less

June 20, 2012: Lt. Col. Mike Paquette lost his job as commander of the 331st Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, where most of the accused instructors had worked. He had led the 331st Training ... more

Photo: COURTESY PHOTO

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July 20, 2012: Air Force Staff Sgt. Luis Walker arrives for the fourth day of his trial at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Walker was accused of sexually assaulting 10 basic trainees, with charges ranging from rape and aggravated sexual assault to obstructing justice and violating rules of professional conduct. Read more: Staff Sgt. Walker found guilty on all charges of sexual misconduct less

July 20, 2012: Air Force Staff Sgt. Luis Walker arrives for the fourth day of his trial at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. Walker was accused of sexually assaulting 10 basic trainees, with charges ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, Associated Press

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July 21, 2012: Staff Sgt. Luis A. Walker is taken away in chains from the 37th Training Wing Headquarters after sentencing. Walker, called a "sexual predator" by Air Force prosecutors, was given 20 years in prison. Read more: 'Sexual predator' gets 20 years at Lackland trial less

July 21, 2012: Staff Sgt. Luis A. Walker is taken away in chains from the 37th Training Wing Headquarters after sentencing. Walker, called a "sexual predator" by Air Force prosecutors, was given 20 years in ... more

Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News

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August 1, 2012: Tech Sgt. Christopher Smith, 33, was convicted on two of four counts of misconduct with basic trainees and sentenced to 30 days in jail and a reduction in rank to airman first class, a penalty that will permit him to remain in the Air Force. Read more: AF trainer given 30 days behind bars, loss of rank less

August 1, 2012: Tech Sgt. Christopher Smith, 33, was convicted on two of four counts of misconduct with basic trainees and sentenced to 30 days in jail and a reduction in rank to airman first class, a penalty ... more

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August 10, 2012: Col. Glenn Palmer lost command of the 737th Training Group, which trains more than 35,000 airmen a year at Lackland. Read more: Lackland training chief is ousted

August 10, 2012: Col. Glenn Palmer lost command of the 737th Training Group, which trains more than 35,000 airmen a year at Lackland. Read more: Lackland training chief is ousted

Photo: William Luther, William Luther/wluther@express-news.net

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August 22, 2012: Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward submitted the Command Directed Investigation, which took a deeper and wider look at basic military training, to AETC Commander Gen. Edward Rice. Her recommendations will become an important blueprint for actions that will be implemented throughout basic training as well as technical training. Read more: Major general to investigate ‘systemic issues' less

August 22, 2012: Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward submitted the Command Directed Investigation, which took a deeper and wider look at basic military training, to AETC Commander Gen. Edward Rice. Her recommendations ... more

Photo: COURTESY OF THE USAF

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Sept. 4, 2012: After a little more than a year on the job, Air Force Col. Eric Axelbank stepped down as head of a training wing here that has been rocked by a growing sex scandal. The command change occurred one day before another instructor, Master Sgt. Jamey Crawford, goes on trial on charges of having sex with a trainee. Read more: Col. Axelbank exits Lackland for the Pentagon less

Sept. 4, 2012: After a little more than a year on the job, Air Force Col. Eric Axelbank stepped down as head of a training wing here that has been rocked by a growing sex scandal. The command change occurred ... more

Photo: COURTESY, USAF

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Sept. 10, 2012: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kwinton Estacio arrives for the start of his court marshal at Lackland Air Force Base. Estacio was initially tried on charges that he sexually assaulted a female basic training student, violated a no-contact order and asked several trainees to lie about his contact with them. Read more: Lackland sergeant pleads guilty to less serious charges less

Sept. 10, 2012: U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Kwinton Estacio arrives for the start of his court marshal at Lackland Air Force Base. Estacio was initially tried on charges that he sexually assaulted a female basic ... more

Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News

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Sept. 12, 2012: Staff Sgt. Kwinton Estacio is led away from the 37th Training Wing Headquarters after sentencing in his trial at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. He was sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to charges of obstruction and having sex with a trainee in violation of Air Force conduct rules. Read more: Former Lackland trainer receives 1-year sentence less

Sept. 12, 2012: Staff Sgt. Kwinton Estacio is led away from the 37th Training Wing Headquarters after sentencing in his trial at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. He was sentenced to one year in prison after ... more

Photo: Tom Reel, San Antonio Express-News

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Sept. 21, 2012: Col. Deborah Liddick marches with military drill
instructors during her change-of-command ceremony at JBSA-Lackland. The
fourth woman to oversee the Air Force's boot camp since 1996, she takes
over amid an investigation that is scrutinizing 33 basic training
instructors for misconduct. Read more: Woman now heads AF training at Lackland less

Sept. 21, 2012: Col. Deborah Liddick marches with military drill instructors during her change-of-command ceremony at JBSA-Lackland. The fourth woman to oversee the Air Force's boot camp since 1996, she ... more

Sept. 21, 2012: Col. Deborah Liddick, new commander of Air Force basic training at JBSA-Lackland, is applauded by by presiding officer and commander of the 37th Training Wing Col. Mark Camerer during a change-of-command ceremony. less

Sept. 21, 2012: Col. Deborah Liddick, new commander of Air Force basic training at JBSA-Lackland, is applauded by by presiding officer and commander of the 37th Training Wing Col. Mark Camerer during a ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Sept. 24, 2012: Staff Sgt. Jason Manko (right) is led from the courthouse to a waiting pickup on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland after being sentenced to 45 days in jail and another 30 days of hard labor on the base for having an illicit relationship with a female trainee. Read more: Lackland trainer gets 45 days in jail in sex case less

Sept. 24, 2012: Staff Sgt. Jason Manko (right) is led from the courthouse to a waiting pickup on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland after being sentenced to 45 days in jail and another 30 days of hard labor on the ... more

Photo: MARVIN PFEIFFER, Marvin Pfeiffer/ Express-News

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Oct. 2, 2012: U.S. Congresswomen from California, members of the House Armed Services Committee, Loretta Sanchez (from left), Jackie Speier and Susan Davis hold a press conference outside Lackland Air Forc e Base. The committee members met with personnel at the base to investigate the ongoing sex scandal. Read more: Lackland's ‘culture' blamed for scandal less

Nov. 14, 2012: Gen. Edward Rice Jr. and Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward met with the media at a press conference in the Pentagon as Col. Steve Clutter stands nearby to field questions. The commanders met with reporters to outline the results of an investigation into sexual misconduct among basic training instructors at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Read more: Lackland leaders cited in scandal less

Nov. 14, 2012: Gen. Edward Rice Jr. and Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward met with the media at a press conference in the Pentagon as Col. Steve Clutter stands nearby to field questions. The commanders met with ... more

Photo: Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News

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Nov. 24, 2012: Former Air Force instructor Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc, center, who was facing 52 years in prison on charges of misconduct with three trainees, threatened to jump from a local overpass after becoming overwhelmed by his legal problems and travel restrictions. Read more: Lackland instructor's legal woes cited in apparent suicide tries. He remained in the Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland lockup after a hearing Dec. 4 in which the Air Force said he committed four new violations. Read more: Lackland trainer jailed after release less

Nov. 24, 2012: Former Air Force instructor Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc, center, who was facing 52 years in prison on charges of misconduct with three trainees, threatened to jump from a local overpass after ... more

Jan. 3, 2013: A military judge found Staff Sgt. Christopher Jackson guilty of having sex with two women trainees and telling one to lie if investigators asked about them. He received a 100-day jail sentence but ... more

Photo: Courtesy Photo

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Jan. 8, 2013: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jaime Rodriguez, middle, who is accused of rape, forcible sodomy and adultery while assigned to the Lake Jackson recruiting office from August 2008 to November 2011, arrives for an evidentiary hearing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Read more: Air Force recruiter pursued girl for sex less

Jan. 8, 2013: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jaime Rodriguez, middle, who is accused of rape, forcible sodomy and adultery while assigned to the Lake Jackson recruiting office from August 2008 to November 2011, arrives ... more

Photo: Billy Calzada, San Antonio Express-News

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Jan. 23, 2013: House members sharply criticized two Air Force generals for a culture that allowed pervasive sexual abuse of recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and for “significant” delays in reporting the crimes. Lawmakers from both parties took turns at a congressional hearing voicing their displeasure and pressed the generals about steps the Air Force is taking to stop sexual abuse. Technical Sergeant Jennifer Norris wipes a tear as she testifies during the hearing. Read more: Panel criticizes handling of Lackland abuse less

Jan. 23, 2013: House members sharply criticized two Air Force generals for a culture that allowed pervasive sexual abuse of recruits at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and for “significant” delays in ... more

Photo: Susan Biddle

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Jan. 31, 2013: A day after jurors cleared Staff Sgt. Donald Davis of the most serious charges against him, he was sentenced to three months of hard labor and a bad conduct discharge for having sex with a trainee in technical school. Read more: Air Force instructor sentenced to hard labor less

Jan. 31, 2013: A day after jurors cleared Staff Sgt. Donald Davis of the most serious charges against him, he was sentenced to three months of hard labor and a bad conduct discharge for having sex with a ... more

Photo: Jerry Lara, San Antonio Express-News

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Feb. 14, 2013: Air Force Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc, in chains, is led from a JBSA Lackland courtroom after being sentenced to 2 1/2 years after he was found guilty on all but one of nine charges that included a 2011 tryst with a recruit. Facing a battery of allegations that included sexually assaulting a woman, he was at risk of going to prison for 52 years. Read more: Lackland trainer gets prison for sexual misconduct less

Feb. 14, 2013: Air Force Staff Sgt. Craig LeBlanc, in chains, is led from a JBSA Lackland courtroom after being sentenced to 2 1/2 years after he was found guilty on all but one of nine charges that included a ... more

Feb. 20, 2013: A judge threw out a case against Tech. Sgt. Samuel Wicks, who was charged with pursing illicit liaisons with three women, saying prosecutors relied on evidence taken from a stolen cellphone. Read ... more

March 4, 2013: Former Air Force trainer Ryan Deraas was sentenced to three months in jail and given a bad-conduct discharge for assaulting a pair of recruits and pursuing five illicit relationships. Read more: ... more

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March 16, 2013: Air Force Staff Sgt. Eddy Soto got four years in prison and a dishonorable discharge after being found guilty of raping an airman he'd led in basic training. Soto, 30, is only the second trainer at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland to be convicted of rape since trials began last spring in the growing instructor misconduct scandal. Staff Sgt. Luis Walker was given 20 years in July. Read more: Lackland trainer handed 4 years in rape less

March 16, 2013: Air Force Staff Sgt. Eddy Soto got four years in prison and a dishonorable discharge after being found guilty of raping an airman he'd led in basic training. Soto, 30, is only the second trainer ... more

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March 21, 2013: Former Air Force basic training instructor Master Sgt. Jamey Crawford was given seven months in jail, two months' hard labor and a bad-conduct discharge for having sex with two women and later lying to investigators about it. Read more: Trainer gets 7 months in Lackland scandal less

March 21, 2013: Former Air Force basic training instructor Master Sgt. Jamey Crawford was given seven months in jail, two months' hard labor and a bad-conduct discharge for having sex with two women and later ... more

April 1, 2013: Virginia Messick is the first victim of a still-unfolding sexual assault scandal at Lackland Air Force Base to speak publicly about what she has endured. Read more: Lackland instructor's victim ... more

Photo: MAX WHITTAKER, New York Times

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April 2, 2013: Staff Sgt. William Romero was given 30 days' hard labor, restricted to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland another 30 days and reduced to airman after pleading guilty to charges that he had illicit relationships with four women and committed adultery. Read more: Lackland trainer, an Iraq vet, gets 60-day sentence less

April 2, 2013: Staff Sgt. William Romero was given 30 days' hard labor, restricted to Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland another 30 days and reduced to airman after pleading guilty to charges that he had illicit ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News

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April 24, 2013: Tech. Sgt. Bobby Bass, who faced up to 33 years in prison, was convicted on multiple counts of misconduct with recruits four years ago at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and sentenced to six months in jail and a reduction in rank by a single stripe. He was acquitted by the jury of two officers and four NCOs of a rape charge involving an airman while in Kyrgyzstan. Read more: NCO gets 6 months in abuses at Lackland less

April 24, 2013: Tech. Sgt. Bobby Bass, who faced up to 33 years in prison, was convicted on multiple counts of misconduct with recruits four years ago at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland and sentenced to six ... more

April 25, 2013: Staff Sgt. Robert Hudson pleaded guilty to having sex with a recruit in basic training and also sickening airmen in a boot camp flight he led after pouring two gallons of bleach in a latrine. ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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May 2, 2013: Staff Sgt. Emily Allen, who pleaded guilty to having sex with a recruit, was sentenced to three months in jail, 30 days' hard labor and reduced to airman first class. The Air Force could move to discharge her after she is released from jail. Read more: Female Lackland trainer gets jail sentence less

May 2, 2013: Staff Sgt. Emily Allen, who pleaded guilty to having sex with a recruit, was sentenced to three months in jail, 30 days' hard labor and reduced to airman first class. The Air Force could move to ... more

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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May 22, 2013: The Air Force says basic training instructor Michael Wladischkin had improper relationships with seven women in technical training on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. He faces an Article 32 evidentiary hearing Wednesday, May 22 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph on allegations of indecent acts, assault, adultery and unprofessional relationships with technical training students. less

May 22, 2013: The Air Force says basic training instructor Michael Wladischkin had improper relationships with seven women in technical training on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. He faces an Article 32 ... more

Photo: JOHN DAVENPORT, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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June 7, 2013: Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward takes over as the head of the Air Force's sexual response. She replaces Jeffrey Krusinski, a lieutenant colonel who was arrested and charged with sexual battery. Read more: Lackland critic to target AF sex abuse less

June 7, 2013: Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward takes over as the head of the Air Force's sexual response. She replaces Jeffrey Krusinski, a lieutenant colonel who was arrested and charged with sexual battery. Read ... more

Photo: Scott M. Ash, U.S. Air Force

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April 21, 2014: Military judge Col. Donald Eller Jr. found Airman 1st Class Nathan Wilson-Crow, a photographer, guilty of four charges and five specifications of misconduct, one of which carried a possible 15-year prison sentence. Wilson-Crow was tried making sexual contact and exposing himself to at least two girls from O'Connor High School at a youth camp in April 2013. Read more: Airman guilty of some charges in Lackland sex case less

April 21, 2014: Military judge Col. Donald Eller Jr. found Airman 1st Class Nathan Wilson-Crow, a photographer, guilty of four charges and five specifications of misconduct, one of which carried a possible ... more

Photo: SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

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September 1, 2014: Former Staff Sgt. Luis Walker, given 20 years in the Air Force's worst sex scandal, dies in a Kansas City, Mo., hospital. He hanged himself in a prison cell at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks.

September 1, 2014: Former Staff Sgt. Luis Walker, given 20 years in the Air Force's worst sex scandal, dies in a Kansas City, Mo., hospital. He hanged himself in a prison cell at the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks.

Photo: San Antonio Express-News / File Photo

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September 9, 2014: Following an analysis of instructor misconduct at Lackland, the Government Accountability Office reports that six recommendations have not been implemented, including one to increase the number of training instructors to 528. Read more: Changes driven by Lackland scandal not complete less

September 9, 2014: Following an analysis of instructor misconduct at Lackland, the Government Accountability Office reports that six recommendations have not been implemented, including one to increase the ... more

Photo: Express-News File Photo

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January 29, 2015: A jury finds veteran Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Silva guilty of raping a recruit he was charged with training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lacklandin 1995. He was found guilty of twice raping the recruit, and also raping a third woman, a member of the military, in Wyoming during February 2007. less

January 29, 2015: A jury finds veteran Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Silva guilty of raping a recruit he was charged with training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lacklandin 1995. He was found guilty of twice raping ... more

Photo: JERRY LARA, San Antonio Express-News

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Lackland trainer handed 4 years in rape

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An Air Force boot camp instructor got four years in prison and a dishonorable discharge Saturday after being found guilty of raping an airman he'd led in basic training.

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A married father with two daughters, he also pleaded guilty to adultery but denied raping a woman, identified as Airman 2, who had been in his basic training flight.

Now 29 and assigned to a base in California, she said she came forward to protect other women from being victimized.

“I just want to tell the Air Force if they can do something in basic training they won't have victims like me later on,” she said before leaving the stand.

So far, 33 instructors have fallen under investigation, and 63 airmen in basic and technical training are listed as victims in a scandal that's become the worst in Air Force history. The victims include four men.

Prosecutors accused Soto of raping Airman 2 after she flew from California to San Antonio to see him in fall 2010, saying she firmly told him that she did not want to have sex.

The defense said she wanted a relationship, and that she made two more trips to San Antonio to see him. Babor said she realized he was texting other women while on her third trip here and demanded he make a choice.

The defense said Soto called her bluff and that she stayed with him as planned, having what both said was consensual sex before going home.

A key question in the trial, the 10th in less than a year to see a Lackland basic training instructor charged with sexual misconduct, is whether she had been raped and later sexually assaulted on one occasion, or if she claimed to be a victim out of her sense of shame.

The case pivoted on the point in part because she's Vietnamese.

Prosecutors brought in one expert, Dr. Rita Chung, a George Mason University professor of cross-cultural studies, to help explain the airman's reaction when Soto first had sex with her.

That was in October 2010, after she flew from California to Texas.

Prosecutors said the woman brushed off Soto's efforts to kiss her after he picked her up at San Antonio International Airport. They said he physically overpowered her when they were in the bedroom of his home, despite her efforts to push him off.

“'I'm not ready for sex,'” Capt. Matthew Neil, a prosecutor, described the encounter. “Words spoken by a woman who didn't want to have sex.”

Babor, the defense attorney, worked to punch holes in that claim, using the woman's statements and the Vietnamese cultural expert, Chung, to make his points. He also said the woman's memory got fuzzy under cross-examination.

Evidence showed Airman 2 continued sleeping with Soto after the initial sexual encounter, and twice more returned to San Antonio through the following spring.

Babor wondered why she'd continue to see her rapist and asked the judge, who was asked to decide the case, to make sense of 4,190 text messages the couple exchanged over about six months, including 2,459 sent by Airman 2. There also were 655 phone calls between the two.

Prosecutors insisted the woman did not want to have sex in their first visit, but tried to build a relationship with Soto because she was shamed as a result of the rape.

Neil, the lead prosecutor, said she saw Soto as a trusted mentor and blamed herself for buying the plane ticket and for the rape itself.

As a woman who grew up in Vietnam until she was 21, she was strongly influenced by her country's culture and was “trying to save face” by working to develop a relationship with Soto, Neil said.

Babor countered that the woman feared her boyfriend's reaction if he got wind of her relationship with Soto.

She and the boyfriend have since married.

In tearful testimony during the sentencing phase, Airman 2 said she could not discuss the rape with her parents, who were proud of her for serving in the Air Force, or with her husband.

“I can't even tell you what happened, because I just keep it to myself,” she said.